1. What is the Gunning Fog Index?

The Gunning Fog Index is a readability test that estimates the years of formal education needed to understand a text on first reading. A fog index of 12 requires a reading level of a U.S. high school senior (around 18 years old).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Gunning Fog formula:

Where:

• \( \text{words} \) — Total word count
• \( \text{sentences} \) — Total sentence count
• \( \text{complex words} \) — Words with 3+ syllables (excluding proper nouns, familiar jargon, or compound words)

Explanation: The index combines average sentence length with the percentage of complex words to estimate reading difficulty.

3. Importance of Readability Scores

Details: Readability scores help writers tailor content to their audience. Different fields have different ideal ranges (e.g., 7-8 for general public, 10-12 for high school graduates, 15+ for college graduates).

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Count words, sentences, and complex words (3+ syllables) in your text. Enter these values to get the readability score. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's considered a "good" Gunning Fog score?
A: For general audiences, aim for 7-8. For business documents, 10-12. Academic papers often score 15+.

Q2: How does this compare to other readability tests?
A: Similar to Flesch-Kincaid but more sensitive to complex words. Fog Index typically scores 3-5 points higher.

Q3: What counts as a complex word?
A: Words with three or more syllables, excluding proper nouns, familiar jargon, or compound words.

Q4: Can I use this for non-English texts?
A: The formula was designed for English. Results may not be accurate for other languages.

Q5: How can I improve my score?
A: Shorten sentences, replace complex words with simpler alternatives, and break up long paragraphs.